Tuesday, September 20, 2005

sali na :O)

The promo is extended until September 30, 2005. Just answer the 3 questions below and email it to me. I was really excited to read your email and hear from friends and lurkers alike.

Thanks to those who already sent in their answers (ang galeng!)

I will be away on travel to Mindanao for about a week and I hope you can send in your answers by then for the one year anniversary celebration of this blog.

(see details below)

Monday, September 19, 2005

a year old

In two days time, my blog will be one year old on September 21. I was wondering how to celebrate it in this space. Thanks to all those who shared their comments, greetings, prayers and own thoughs on the matter at hand. It was also a unique way to be in touch with friends and to be able to share these thoughts wherever it may find you, QC, Benguet, Taipei, Sweden or Guatemala.

It was good having this space to express some of my thoughts some because I don't think I will be able to share the zillion thoughts that pass by me. I just want to share what were the great things that happened and sad things too and how am I on my journey. Noting these down and blogging about it clearly helped me on my way. I learned more about how God was there for me everywhere and whenever.

I've been talking more about myself for the past year and would like to hear from you now. I've been talking about my own travels, what makes my heart leap and what are my aspirations. In celebration of this year's anniversary, I will be giving out a few gifts from my travels as a token to readers of this blog who would answer these (3)three questions.

1) Where was your most unforgettable travel?
2) What single thing makes your heart leap?
3) What is your heart's greatest desire?


Do not post your answers here you need to email it to me. Some readers may not be registered bloggers thus I am giving opportunity to non-bloggers who read this space to join in. Please email me your answers.

Send in your answers to day_flores@yahoo.com with a the title "happy birthday blog". Do send me your answers.

There will be 3 winners and will be announced on September 21st.

Feeling better

For the past week I've been down with the flu. I had fever that woke me up in the middle of the night.

The weather was sunny and hot then in the afternoon it would rain. I can't remember the last time I had a bad case of fever and flu. It always happens in the middle of something really important that you have to do. Our bodies have indeed a way of dealing with our stress, if we don't listen, more often than not our own osmosis joes will take charge.

There is something good to be able to slow down and rest. Now, I am really thankful that I am able to breath normally, how one would appreciate the things that we take for granted in our daily lives which is the very basic in essential for living and functioning. Such a relief to be able to breath without congestion.

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

free will, power and respect

I was ruminating about the things that happened today and once in while Amats and I would exchange some thoughts. We just came from the Center early this evening.

It just struck me once more how powerful our God is and I was telling to Amats, actually He is omnipotent that He can just make us follow Him. But He did not. Amats said, that is why He gave us free-will. Without free-will there can be no love in the world.

I am in awe how my almighty God could have so much respect to what I decide and He honors that. I do need to be responsible for my choices. But we are free to decide.

People sometimes mis-use this freedom. Sometimes I think people believe they are the master of themselves and even of their fellow men. I was also wondering why some people feel superior above others? Issues of racism even though it is hidden in many anti-racist policy, still palpable are the actions of people whose bias cannot be hid.

Why are there people who have no respect for others? I think those people who are truly strong inside exhibit true respect for others, while those who are weak tries to hide beneath the facade of being strong and more often than not, do not respect others.

midnight random thoughts.

Amazing Grace

My backpack has been found according to Mr. Charles Boustani of Lost property Department of Sydney Train station. They already called my friend's number and informed her, I also received a text from her this morning about the good news. I just need to authorize my friend who lives in Sydney to claim it for me. I will be back in Australia in October and I will be able to get it by then.

Thank God. Thank you for your prayers! Indeed this a concrete example that God answers prayers. He helps us during troubled times and brings us comfort wherever we are.

Thursday, September 08, 2005

Back Home

It is good to be back home. Each travel I believe makes me learn a new lesson, see new things, understand various perspectives, overcome and adjust to challenges before me, learned to live better and appreciate life more.

The past weeks have been a roller coaster of work and adventure. I've seen familiar and new places. Again, I've visited Sydney, Australia and Suva, Fiji Islands I was really happy to be given the chance to work and visit these places. I've visited old and new friends. Again I was able to work with the warm people of the South Pacific. A big bonus of this recent trip is that I was able to visit New Zealand.

Working with my colleagues at the University of South Pacific and the Fiji LMMA network gave me inpiration to continue on with the work that I do here in the Philippines. Recent developments at work gave me a clearer bearing of how to move forward with our work in marine conservation. We visited a village which I already blogged about.

I've visited a Filipino family Benjie, Sally and 3 yr old Chinox living in a dairy farm in New Zealand. I lived with them for a few days and listened to their aspirations of a better life. Ms Jovy and I visited their beautiful Tongariro National Park where some of the Lord of the Rings scenes were filmed.

In Sydney, I visit an old friend Olive whom I haven't seen in a long time. We both used to work for WWF Philippines. Could you believe it that it was only through Friendster that I was able to get in touch with her again and visit her.

Not everything went smoothly though. Along the way in Sydney, I lost my backpack containing Toshiba laptop, a Canon A70 digital camera, 256mb, 64mb,16mb memory cards, my petzel head lamp, usb flash drive (a gift), lady bug mouse (a gift also), medicine kit, toothbrush, NZ manuka honey lip balm, kiwi moisturizer, LOTR collector's stamps and other souvernirs and 200+ US$ and 8,000 pesos cash. Never have I lost so much in one blink of an eye.

Because of these events, I realized how materials things can be temporal. Lessons indeed come with a price.

Despite the stunning loss, inspite of the beautiful places that invite one to stay on, there is only one place that can sooth a tired spirit.

Its indeed good to be back home.

Saturday, September 03, 2005

Prayer Request

Dear Friends, I am here in Sydney. I lost something at the train station today something very important my laptop (ang kabuhayan ko) please pray that the person who got it return it to the train station where we reported it. Hay, it happened so quickly, it was like 25 minutes then we returned for it and its not there anymore. I kept praying that someone will return it. Hay